Cotton treating



A. COBB COTTON TREATING Oct. 23, 1928.

Filed June 1.1, 1,926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

X 'K y/Q ATTORNEY A. COBB COTTON TREATING Oct. 23, 1923.

Filed June 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet E ATTORNEY Ga. 23, 1928. 1, ,5 1 A.COBB COTTON TREATiNG Filed June 11, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

6. 7 ATTORi EY.

Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR COBB, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0! COLUMBIA.

corron TREATING.

Application filed June 11, 1928. .Serial No. 115,180.

This invention relates to cotton, particularly to a process andmachinery fortreating and conditioning cotton prior to its use in thearts.

Tinged cotton-The apparent coloration of cotton caused by the presenceof dust and particles of colored soil among or lightly attached to thefibers can be removed by modern cleaning methods; definite tinges ofcotton, as distlnguished from the above mentioned apparent coloration,and due to coherence with the surface of the cuticle or entry intosolution or mixture therewith of impalpably minute particles andamorphous forms of hydrated silicates of aluminum, oxides of metals andsimilar compounds, cannot be removed by the most advanced cleaningmethods, and whitening of tinged cotton and removal of such tinges orcolor from the fiber by bleaching or chemical treatment is difficult andin many cases impossible.

Cleaning processes.Various processes for cleaning cotton all consistessentially in the so-called picking operation, beating and combing byvarious mechanical means, while the cotton and foreign matters are withreference to their surfaces practically dry, such surface drying beingeffected by extended exposure to the relatively dry air of storage roomsor bins or exposure to heated chambers or dryers at temperature beingfrom 100F. to approximately 150F. but not approaching in practice 175F.By these processes, the major portion of the accumulated foreign mattersare substantially removed, but the subjection of cotton together withaccumulated foreign matters suchas bits of leaf, bolls, grassandlike'trash while thoroughly dried or desiccated to the action ofmechanical beaters, pickers and similar operations seriously injures thefiber, and instead of substantially removing such foreign matters,pulverizes a large part of the leaf and other frangible substances witha resultant intimate mixture with and entanglement by the fibers of suchpulverized residue.

Defects of prior methods-The shortcomings of these cleaning processes,with reference to treating and conditioning cotton in preparation forspinning, chemical treatment or modification of the cellulose or otheruse is that they do not affect the physical qualities of the fiber orthe chemical content or structure or removal of the non-cellulosicsubstances associated therewith or incorporated therein, or affect theabsorptive characteristics of the fiber; or effect the sterilizations ofcotton with reference to injurious life and organisms; or effect anychange or improvement in the fiber with reference to phys cal orstructural preparations or characteristics in relation to chemical orother treatment and relate only to cleaning cotton b the removal offoreign matters, such as bits of leaf, stalk, trash, soil and dirtentangled by or intermingled with and resting on and among the fibersand accumulated or added after the opening of the boll and not a part ofor in the process of growth and ripening, by natural processes, madeconstituents thereof or deposited thereon.

Applioants prooesa-A principal object of applicants invention is toprovide a process for conditioning preferably cleaned cotton lint orstaple for spinning or other processes or uses in industry and the arts,for bleaching, dyeing and other chemical treatments incident to suchprocesses and uses; for the various processes of chemical modificationor purification of cotton cellulose; and by such process providedistinct and notable advances, new methods and accom lishments in theart of preparing and conditioning lint cotton and cotton not heretoforeconceived or employed in preparing or conditioning cotton for such usesand purposes, in that the use of such process will effect and accomplishamongst others:

(a). Definite changes in the noncellulosic substance on or incorporatedwithin the structure of the fiber.

(b). The removal of certain and changes in the structure of definiteothers of the compounds and substances admixed with or present in thepores of the modified cellulosic substances of which the cuticle of-thefiber is composed, with such resultant changes in the physicalcharacteristics of the cuticle that it is throughout its area rendereduniformly adsorptive.

(0). Opening the structuralinterstices of the cellulose enveloped by thecuticle and the removal of certain noncellulosic and deleterioussubstances therefrom, with-a resultant increase in uniformity ofabsorptive capacity and readiness for chemical combination. l

(d). The removal of water of constitution of and moisture incorporatedin and definite physical changes in certain of the color bearingparticles adhering to or admixed with the cuticle of the fiber, and theexudate or waxy substances thereon, andconsequent removal of'suchparticles and the coloration'or tinge resulting therefrom.

(-e). A material increase in the elastic limit and ultimate strength ofthe fiber and the uniformity of its cross sectional area.

(f). A material whitening of the fiber by the removal not, only ofparticles of mineral compounds adliering to or admixed with the" cuticleand the cuticularcoating or exudate,

a vertical opener V0; and another vertical opener V0 a horizontal openerHO; chute conveyor CC; condenser CD; blade beater BLB; carding beaterCB; chute conveyor but of certain of the'substances by nature COintermixed in the structure of the fiber.

part of the impuria earin an d deleti the use and working of the cotton.

' (7) Complete sterilization of the cotton with reference to fungi,bacteria, moulds, infusoria and injurious infections, and all weevils,insects and living organisms and'substances whatsoever, vegetable oranimal, and

all spores, cells, mains thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description ofapplicantsprocess and a particular preferred embodiment of apparatus for carryingapplicants process into effect progresses, and the novel features of theinvention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a particular preferredphysical embodiment of apparatus for practicing the invention, andwherein like eggs and reproductive re- ,characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a combination of apparatus suitable forpracticing my process; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the planeindicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of thearrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 3 is a part elevational and partvertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-:III ofFig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line;Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the lineIVIV of Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the end of theline.

Before describing, in detail, the apparatus shown upon the drawings, itis desired to emphasi ze the fact that the apparatus has been shownmerely somewhat schematically and diagrammatically because the majorportion thereof is old and thoroughly well known to those skilled in theart to which this process relates. It is also desired to emphasize the Ifact thatthe apparatus shown is merely illustrative of one form whichapparatus may take by which the process may be practiced, but the In theoperation of the process, as illustrated by the particular form ofapparatus selected to be shown in the drawings, the cotton is placed onthe traveling carrier 1, the

,upper member of which moves in the direction of arrow 2, delivering thecotton to, the traveling carrier 3, the upper member of which moves inthe direction indicated by arrow 4-. The cotton is carried into contactwith the pin apron 5 moving in the direction of the arrow 6 and isengaged and carried upwardly until it is removed'by the dotler and thenfalls upon the horizontal lattice conveyor 8. The cotton isthen carriedalong so as to be engaged by the vertical conveyor C, then being carrieupwardly and depos ited upon the shortv horizontal conveyor 9. Theconveyor 9 moves the cotton forward and allows it to drop upon theconveyor 10, the upper apron of which travels to the right as viewed inFig. 2.

The operation so far has resulted in taking the cotton from a mass orbale, opening it up and depositing it in opened up condition on thetraveling conveyor of the thermal chamber TO. All of the apparatus sofar described is old and well-known commercial apparatus familiar tothose skilled in the cotton treating art.

The thermal chamber TC is practically shown in mere outline. It does notcorrespond to any well-known commercial appa ratus on sale and isillustrated in such detail only as may best make clear the mode ofoperation.

The cotton in passing through the thermal chamber is subjected to heat.This heat is preferably applied in the form injectedinto thethermal'chamber at a plurality of places. In the particular arrangementshown in the drawings, heated air is injected through air conduits11,.12, 13 and 14. For best operation I prefer to inject air, throughconduit 11, which has a'temperature of about 228 to 235 Fahrenheit;through conduit 12, air at a temperature of 260 F. to 280 F.; throughconduit 13, air at a temperature of 285 F. to 298 F.; through conduit14, air at a temperature of 240 F. to 255 F. In general it may be saidthat the cotton in passing through the thermal chamber will be subjectedto several specific heats ranging in tem- CHC; and cooling andconditioning chamber of heated air,

i above, say 300 F.

not'below 200 F. to not The temperature will be regulated to obtain bestresults with the particular lot of cotton being treated, having in viewefiiciency ofthe process, proper results and economy.

perature from say,

The heated air supplied to the conduits 11 I to 14 inclusive will beobtained by any well known method and apparatus, erablybe dry and willbe'supplied in such volume and at such rate as will suffice to bring thecotton paming under a given conduit to substantially the condition asregards temperature as the air issuing from that conduit. The rate offlow of the air will also be such that it will have full efficiency totransport and take away the products of evaporation and sublimationeffected in certain of the noncellulosic compounds on and within thefibre and a part of such solid material as may be liberated from thepassing cotton.

Between each two conduit openings in the thermal chamber Iconsider itpreferable to place a baffle plate as 15, 16 and 17. These baflle platesincrease efficiency in that the currents of air from the severalconduits at different temperatures are kept practically separated in thechamber and maintained in a fixed direction of movement by thesebaflles, and by the positioning of air eflluent openings 18, 19 and 20.

The effect on the cotton of passing it through the thermal chamber,which is done at such a rate and subject to such temperatures as toachieve the desired results,.is first, to desiccate the entire mass,including all foreign elements; second, physically and structurally tochange material parts of the noncellulosic substances and compoundsnaturally appearing on and within the fibres of the cotton anddeleterious with reference to its use in industry and the arts; third,to remove by the air currents portions of such noncellulosic substancesand matter so changed; and fourth, completely to sterilize the cottonwith reference to fungi, moulds, growths, bacteria, infusoria and allorganisms and living matter whatsoever, vegetable or animal.

Applicant has not shown in the drawings any means for mechanicallyagitating or opening the cotton while passing through the thermalchamber, but he desires to have it understood that he does not therebyindicate that such' may not be used by him in given cases, butin thepreferred form shown in the. drawings no such means are shown; nor doesapplicant mean that he may not, if in certain cases deemed advisable, byproper conduits deliver heated air directly to and in any of the severalmachines in which the cotton is mechanically treated or moved.

The cotton from the thermal chamber passes down the chute DC to theentrance end of the vertical opener VO, where it is engaged by thespirally arranged cylinder picks 21 and adand will prefvanced upwardlyto the exit and into chute 22. The picks work Within a conical memberformed of parallel bars 23 spaced apart and usually provided with aforaminous covering 40, so that further deleterious materialseparatesfrom-the cotton and falls through the foraminous covering'andthe grids formed by the bars. .The cotton then passes through thevertical opener V0 where the same operation takes place. These verticalopeners are devices old and well known in the cotton treating art andtherefore have been scantily illustrated.

The cotton after passing through the vertical opener VO passes to thehorizontal o ener and cleaner HO. That also is a device 0 d andthoroughly well-known in the cotton treating at and the construction andmode of operation are well understood, for which,

.reasonthe illustration thereof is but fragmentary. The cotton entersthe horizontal cleaner by pipe 24 passing into the foraminous drum 25engaging with spirally arranged revolving cotton advancing studs 26. Thecotton issues from the exit end of the horizontal opener HO and passesup the chute conveyor CO. The cotton while in the horizontal cleaner isfurther worked mechanically so that more of the noncellulosic anddeleterious substances, and practically all dustand fine bits of trashas Well, are removed, falling through the foraminous drum 25.

The cotton is drawn through the chute CC to condenser CD by suction fan31 which is attached tothe condenser. This condenser is a device old andwell-known in the" art of handling cotton, and so has been scantilyillustrated. It merely suffices to say that the cotton falls upon therevolving foraminous drum 27 and is carried down to and by the swingingair damper 28 and knocked off by the fluted roller 29, whereupon thecotton drops through the feeder box FB onto conveyor 30. The suctioncreated by fan 31 not only serves to draw the cotton through chute CC,but further withdraws from the cotton parts of the noncellulosic anddeleterious matter changed and structurally broken down by heat as abovementioned. The still warm cotton, together with such bits of leaf, trashand other foreign matters as remain among its fibres, is, as it dropsthrough feeder box FB, exposed to a faintly humid atmosphere caused bythe injection through vapor inlet VI of expanded steam, or aqueous vaporof approximately F. temperature, and thereby moistened slightly but ina. degree sufficient to prevent the action of the beater blades and pinsfrom injuring the fibre and pulverizing of any remaining among thefibers and consequently, from mixing such powdered matters with thecotton; from feeder box FB the cotton falls upon the carrier or conveyor30 and, following the direction of the arrows shown, is

frangible foreign matter I substances and second "treating art. It is ingeneral first to passed through the blade beater BLB and the cardingbeater CB and passed into chute conveyor CHC. The devices designated BLBand CB are well-known and thoroughly. understood devices used intreating cotton and are diagrammatically shown in a common commercial"form well-known in the art. The function performed by the devices BLBand GB is a function well-known and understood by those skilled in the.cotton remove any remaining'bits of leaf and other foreim y roughly toform the cotton into a lap.

The cotton passing through chute CI-IC and condenser CH falls into theconditioning chamber CO upon conveyor 32, then passes to conveyor 33 andthen to conveyor 34, whereupon it emerges from the process onto conveyor35.

In any appropriate wall of the conditioning chamber CO and in as manyplaces as considered desirable, and preferably in the top thereof ispositioned, as shown in the drawmg, a nebulizer, or atomizer, 36, of anywellknown or approved construction. In the particular type shown, waterenters by pipes 37 and 38 in fine streams, and air under pressure entersthrough pipe 39, striking the fine streams of water and breaking them upinto minute particles which, in the form of a water nebule or fine mistof any desired density of moisture, spread through and sufiuse withmoisture the air of the conditioning chamber CO. The cotton, having beenby the hereinbefore' described treatment so conditioned that whilematerially less hygroscopic with reference to total'absorptive capacltyit is uniformly absorptive to moisture, is, in being transported throughthe chamber, moved at such a rate with reference to the density of thewater nebule or mist that imbibition by the fibres of the desiredmoisture content is effected, such moisture content being substantially7 %/8% by weight for normal use and purposes; but the absorbed-watercontent may be varied by variations in density of the water nebule orconveyor speed.

In addition to the nebulizer 36, above mentioned, I may use a spraynozzle 40, positioned at any desired point in any Wall of the chamber,through which I may inject a spray of water, as desired, and, as analternative or inaddition to the nebulizer, for effecting in certaincontingencies the desired moisture content in the cotton passing throughthe chamber CO. V

The cotton when it issues onto conveyer 35 has not only been freed ofthe more deleterious parts of the noncellulosic substances and Waxymatters naturally appearing on and Within the fibre, cleansed of alldust, dirt and colored mineral compounds and of the major portion of anyremaining accumulated foreign matter and rendered completely gradessterile with reference to infections and living organisms; but all thefibres have acquired substantially the same moisture content, have beenmaterially whitened, increased in ultimate strength and elasticity, andcondi-' tioned in a superior degree for use in the artsi and industry. 7

After the cotton h s passed through the treatment and conditioningprocess above de-f scribed, it is, in its superior grade and condition,either (a) immediately baled or otherwise made ready for delivery andshipment; or (6) finally prepared for immediate utilization inmanufacture or other processes in industry and the arts, by mixing andblending the several lots of quantities of cotton of proper grades andtypes, thereby producing uniform lots of any desired standards of gradeand staple, removing therefrom the re maining bits of accumulatedforeign matter and forming such uniform lots of standard and types ofcotton into substantially uniform laps or other form. of any desiredstandards of dimensions an densities and ready for immediate employmentinfinal carding and sliver forming machines or other manufacturing stepsor other processes or uses requiring clean lint cotton of specificstandards of grade and staple, thus relieving the users of such cottonof any expense or investment in equipment incident to operationspreliminary to putting into manufacturing I or other processesthoroughly cleaned and prepared lint cotton.

Such final preparation of the cotton is ac complished by the employmentof standardized types of machinery and equipment, such asintermediateandfinisher lappers in connection with automatic distributors, conve orsand feeders, all of common use throughout the cotton manufacturingindustry and so well known to all persons skilled in the art ofutilizing lint cotton that mere mention of the results obtained orsuggestion of types of machinery conveys a complete understanding ofsuch processes and knowledge of machincry and equipment employed, andhence a detailed description thereof is not set out.

I he general construction and mode of operation of one form of apparatusfor carry- 1)! ing out my process having been described, it remains todescribe and explain more explicitly the scientific principlesdiscovered by applicant and utilized by the process.

It has been discovered by experiment that ifcotton is heated totemperatures substantially higher than anyfhertofore, proposed in thetreatment of cotton, say, within the thermal limits of 200 F. to 300 F.,that thermolytic, thermochemical and physical action and reaction cause,(a) vaporization and dissipation of certain of the more volatilenoncellulosic' substances and compounds on and within the fibre andappearing free or in solution or admixed with other sub- 130 I sociationand thermolysisof certain other of losic solutions, mixtures andsubstances natthe noncellulosic compoundsand substances appearin asabove 'mentloned; (c) the formation 0 ditional nonce lulosic substancesand compounds appearing as above mentioned and flowingintoandintermixture with others'of remaining substances; ((2') theexsiccation of and renderingpulverulent certain non-celluurally presentand in the course of treatment and conditioning formed on the fibre; (f)

rapid evolution into vapor, and expulsion thereof, of the uncombinedmoisture or freewater within and complete desiccation of all parts'andcomponent substances of the entire fibre and in connection therewithopening the pores of the cuticle and the interstices Within thecellulose of the fibre and removal therefrom of a part of the impuritiesand non-cellulosic substances present; (g) killing, de-

stroying and rendering negative and sterile all fungi,'moulds, bacteria,growths and deleterious infection, all infusoria, insects and livingmatter both vegetable and animal, and all spores, cells, eggs, germs andreproductive remains thereof, andrenderingall cottofn so treated freefrom all such matter and li e.

Experiments and tests have determined that the thermolyticandthermochemical reactions and changes and physical and structuraltransformations, mutations and modiaction and responsive to chemicaltreatment fications and sterilization above mentioned and comprehendedwill be effected, all without, injury to the fibre and cellulosethereof, by the hereinbefore described process where in by controlledsteps and means the cotton for definite periods is exposed to and heatedin substantially dry air at substantially the given temperatures withinthe approxlmate limits of, say, 220 F. to 300 F.

The mechanlcal treatment subsequent to the thermal treatment results insubstantially removing the particles and residue of the matter,transformed, loosened, separated and expelled from the several parts andportions. of the fibres; maintaining the cotton, during thistrea'tment,in a substantially dry atmosphere at a temperature in excess of 200 F.,prevents imbibition, with resultant viscidity and coalescence, by bitsof desiccated colloidal substances and exsiccated particles of matterand residue.

Throughout the whole process, although the cotton is heated to muchhigher temperatures than an heretofore proposed, dehydration of the celulosic content of the fibre does not occur, that is, no water ofconstitution is I new compounds and derivatives of (281133111 further ofthe non-cellulosic com-' pounds and substances a pearing as above.mentioned; (01} fusing o certain'of the ad chemists and physicists,

driven off, nor is molecular or structural condensation effected;desiccation without molecular or structural change in the cellulosiccontent of the'fibre is effected, that is, free water only, but notwater of constitution of the cellulose, is driven ofi.

It has been determined th sorpt've throughout, and that fibres t ereofcontaining by weight approximately 7.5% /8% of moisture aresubstantially more elastic and of greater ultimate tensile strength thanfibres in lots of cotton not so treated, 1rrespective of the proportionof water to weight in'such lots of untreated cotton. It has further beendetermined that the absorption in the fibre of the proper moisturecontent is most readily and efliciently effected by exposure of thecotton, succeeding the above mentioned desiccation and removal ofnoncellulosic matters and while yet somewhat heated, to a current ofhotaqueous vapor and thence to an atmosphere charged. with and containing0001 nebulized water, all under carefully controlled conditions andwithin definite limits with reference to time of exsure andtemperatures, quantities and ensities of vapor and water nebule, therebyconcurrently effecting the coolin and conditioning of the fibre for andim ibition of moisture in proper amounts and roportions. ResultsefleoterL-Cotton treated inthemane cotton treated as 'above'outlined isrendered uniforml ab-' ner and by the methods and processes aboveoutlined is substantially whiter, is-more nearly umform 1n molsturecontent, is more nearly free from impurities and non-cellulosicsubstances and materials, is more elastic and o f greater tensile andultimate strength, is more immediately susceptible to chemical andprocesses'and generally in better condition for working than cottontreated by any other current or prior method for preparing EllllOIlSbased on mations, changes and reactions, and

changes in physical forms and characteristics are im rfectly understoodand can not be fully etermined by even the most skilled it is desiredthat applicant be not unduly bound thereby; and the fact that theobjects and purposes set out are attained and subserved, and the resultsoutlined accomplished, by the employment of the methods and processesmentioned, applicant regards as of greater moment than a. struseexplanations of obscure and involved intermediate physical and chemicalprocesses, reactions and phenomena.

Although applicant has throughout the specification particularly pointedout the applicability of the processes, methods and apparatus for theconditioning of cotton lint, nevertheless, he does not mean to excludeby such particularity the use of the methods, processes, and apparatus,if suitable, for the conditioning of fibres in general whether in thecondition corresponding to cotton lint or in other conditions or formsfabricated or unfabricated.

Although applicant has herein fully described his process and explainedthe principles thereof, and has illustrated, described and explained theconstruction and mode of operation of a particular preferred form ofapparatus for carrying out the process, nevertheless, it is desired tohave it understood that the showing is illustrative only and does notexhaust the possible physical embodiments of means for practicing theprocess or the application of the principles herein described andexplained.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters is:

1. The process of conditioning cotton which consists in heating thecotton in a substantially dry atmosphere to temperatures in excess of175 F. while it'is being worked.

2. The process of producing a mass orlot. of cotton fibres eachsubstantially throughout its length of approximately equal and definitemoisture content, which consists in first subjecting the cotton to asubstantially dry heat Within the thermal limits of 220- F. and 300 F.,and mechanically working the cotton, and then exposing the cotton whilecooling to aqueous vapor. I

3. The method of sterilizing cotton which consists in heating the cottonin a current of substantially dry air at temperatures between 220 F. and300 F.

ARTHUR COBB.

Patent of the United States,

